Erongo Governor Neville Andre Itope has emphasised the importance of a desalination plant at the coast, noting that it would be a good solution to the region’s water woes.
The governor was speaking during a briefing session on the sidelines of a visit by a NamWater delegation to Erongo as part of their engagements with stakeholders in the region.
“A desalination plant would mean uninterrupted access to clean water. We would have a sustainable water supply for all our residents. However, what I would like to see from NamWater is that the price to consumers on the ground should be affordable and should not disadvantage anyone in our region. Somebody with a small plot or garden should be able to afford to irrigate his or her crops for their consumption.”
NamWater Chief Executive Officer Abraham Nehemia agreed that establishing a desalination plant is urgent and said NamWater and its stakeholders need to find a way to fast-track the process.
The CEO emphasised that the project of establishing a plant has already been approved by Cabinet, but it is important for NamWater to engage its stakeholders in the region to understand the process, including the issue of ownership of such a project.
“The most important aspect of water supply is infrastructure. We can talk, plan and think about how to get water to the people but if we do not have the necessary infrastructure in place, we will always have problems as we will never be able to satisfy the needs of the people,” Nehemia noted.
He said NamWater has a responsibility to ensure that all Namibians have access to water.
“It is therefore very important that the aspect of infrastructure is taken seriously and the necessary support is provided by all those who have to do it in terms of financing because it costs a lot of money,” Nehemia stated.
Currently in the Erongo Region there is a desalination plant owned by Orano. It was initially constructed to provide water to the Trekkopje Uranium Mine, which is still under maintenance and care.
The desalination plant currently provides 15 per cent of the region’s water to some of the existing operational mines.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency